You may have received a notice from We Energies about converting your home’s electrical service from overhead to underground. Here’s a clear breakdown of what the process involves.
Conversion Process
We Energies is burying power lines across southeastern Wisconsin to make the grid tougher against ice storms, high winds, and heavy snow. The utility installs the underground lines and transformer near the property, but connecting the home to that new system typically falls to the homeowner. Roman Home Services is here to make the process easy for you! Our licensed electricians are experienced with underground service connections and panel upgrade requirements.
What the Electrician Will Do
The work generally involves updating your home’s electrical entry point, including:
- Pulling down the old overhead mast and weather head
- Installing a new underground-rated meter base
- Terminating conduit at the meter
- Checking your panel to see if it needs an upgrade
- Handling permits and inspections
For most homes, this work can be completed in a single day once permits and scheduling are in place.
What It Costs
Most homeowners can expect to pay somewhere between $3,500 and $8,000 for the electrical work on their end, though your final number depends on a few variables. If your panel needs to be upgraded as part of the project, tack on another $1,500 to $3,500. The distance between the utility’s connection point and your meter base matters, too. A longer trench runs mean more conduit, wire, and labor, which drives the price up. You’ll also want to factor in permit fees, which typically fall between $150 and $400 depending on your municipality, and keep in mind that older meter bases almost always need to be swapped out as part of the job.
One thing worth knowing upfront: We Energies generally doesn’t cover the cost of this homeowner-side work, so it’s worth getting a clear, written estimate before anything gets underway.
Choosing the Right Electrician
Not every electrician handles utility service upgrades. Before you sign anything, make sure your contractor checks a few key boxes. They should hold a valid Wisconsin state license, which you can verify by asking for their license number directly. They should also carry both liability insurance and workers’ comp, so you’re protected if anything goes wrong on the job. Look for real, hands-on experience with We Energies conversions specifically. A trustworthy contractor will hand you a written, itemized estimate rather than just a verbal quote, and they’ll pull the permit themselves, in their own name, rather than asking you to do it. Finally, they should be ready to coordinate directly with We Energies on your behalf, handling the disconnect and reconnect scheduling so you don’t have to juggle it yourself.
Bottom Line
Don’t wait to take action! Reach out to a licensed, experienced electrician as soon as the notice arrives. Estimates are usually free, and getting ahead of the scheduling crunch means less stress and more flexibility for you.
